Mary: “It’s impossible to know who is behind the mask. Is it an alien? A serial killer? Or just a person trying to be funny?”

Dr. Flooding: “Why are you afraid of small spaces?”

Mary: “I feel trapped.”

Dr. Flooding: “We are going to cure you today. It’s a radical treatment that I created to shock your mind and force you to overcome your fears.”

Mary: “How?”

Dr. Flooding: “I’m going to strap you to a chair inside an elevator with a clown next to you.”

3

Mary entered the elevator and sat down in the wooden chair. Dr. Flooding used leather straps to tie her arms and legs to the chair.

Dr. Flooding: “There, that should do it.”

Mary wiggled in the chair, attempting to move her arms and legs. “I can’t do this. Take off these straps!”

Dr. Flooding walked out of the elevator. “No way. You need to deal with these fears.”

The elevator door closed, then a few seconds later, opened again with a loud, DING!

A clown stood at the opening, wearing a white mask with rosy red cheeks, thick red lips, and a blue circle around each eye. The hair looked like it had been rolled in dirt and was once the color of green. The outfit was a typical clown costume, with big red hands and blue shoes that looked like massive bubbles.

Mary pulled with all of her strength, but couldn’t break her hands free.

The clown stepped inside the elevator, gazed at Mary for a moment, then slammed his large glove against the elevator buttons.

As the door closed, the clown turned and stared at Mary.

4

Mary’s scream was so loud that her voice bounced off the elevator walls and rang in her ears.

Mary twisted in the chair, feeling the sting from the leather straps on her arms and legs. “Get me out of here! Get me out of here!”

Suddenly, the lights went out.

Mary screamed so loud that she almost passed out. Sweat drizzled down her face and into her eyes. The elevator seemed as if it had stopped moving, but the door didn’t open.

Where was the clown? Was it still right in front of her?

A voice appeared from a speaker. “Mary, this is Dr. Flooding. I know that you’re frightened, but you must deal with this.”

“I want out of here! Now!”

“No, Mary. You’re going to stay.”

The clown whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry…I won’t hurt you.”

5

Patient:

Bobby Garrison, Age 16

Phobias:

Nyctophobia (Fear of the dark)

Spectrophobia (Fear of mirrors)

Physician:

Dr. Flooding

Treatment:

Bobby will be forced to deal with his fears.

6

Bobby had gone through a quick interview with Dr. Flooding. Next, Dr. Flooding used leather straps to secure Bobby’s hands and legs to the wooden chair. Under the chair was some sort of circular metal piece.

The room had walls made of rusty metal. On the lower part of each wall was a large metal hook.

“What is this place?” Bobby asked.

Dr. Flooding ignored the question and left the room. He returned a few minutes later carrying four mirrors. He placed a mirror on each wall, which was low enough to show Bobby’s reflection.

Dr. Flooding smiled at Bobby. “You can spin around in the chair.”

Bobby couldn’t move his feet, but he was able to shift his weight to move the chair in a circle. Each mirror on the wall showed his terrified expression.

Bobby: “This is messed up. Untie these straps.”

Dr. Flooding: “Not a chance. You have to deal with your fears. This is the only way.”

Bobby: “Forget that! Let me go!”

Dr. Flooding left the room, closing the door behind him.

The lights dimmed until it was just about black.

Bobby spun in the chair, barely able to see his reflection on each wall. As time passed, the reflection began to change.

“Help!” Bobby screeched. His voice recoiled off the metal walls. He noticed the mirrors with his reflection, like ghosts screaming with pain.

The reflections began to change. The face was no longer of Bobby.

Four different reflections seemed anxious to leap from the mirror and attack Bobby while he remained defenseless in the chair.

7

Patient:

Sheila Maydan, Age 13

Phobias:

Pediophobia (Fear of dolls)

Arachnophobia (Fear of spiders)

Physician:

Dr. Flooding

Treatment:

Sheila will be forced to deal with her fears.

8

The room Sheila had been placed was a dusty attic with one small window, covered with mud. The floor creaked as she walked in and sat on the wooden chair.

Dr. Flooding strapped her to the chair and formed a grin. “It’s good that you are dealing with your fears.”

Sheila: “I haven’t done anything yet. I’m in this stupid room, sitting in this stupid chair, and it appears that I’m stupid enough to allow someone to strap me to the chair so I can’t move.”

Dr. Flooding: “Okay, well, I need to get something. I’ll be right back.”